District of



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. L. 8; L. H. DYER. ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR;-

No. 498,160. Patented May 23,1893.

Wit u (us-sew.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. L. & L. H. DYER. v

ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR. No. 498,160. Patented May 23 1893.

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Wit-n. eases. lfnz'en'lonr P. L. & L. H. DYER. ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR.

3 Sheets- Sheet (No Model.)

Patented May 23, 1893.

In re a Zorn? 6W. m 2 x ka Era Witness ea UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

ERANK'L. DYER AND LEONARD H. DYER, OF \VASHING'ION, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO ALEXANDER. MCDOUGALL, OF

DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRIC STEERING- G EAR.

SPECIFICATIQN'forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,1QO, dated May 23, 1893. Application filedApril 18,1891, Serial No. 389.521- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe, FRANK L. DYER- and LEONARD H. DYER, citizens of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District 5 of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Steering- Gear; and we do hereby declare the following to be aliull, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same. 4

Our invention relates to an improved form of electric steering gear for vessels, in which steam or other source of power and electricity are used to operate the rudder or steering device.

The objections attending the use of mechanical steering gears, heretofore, has been the liability of breakage of the connections between the steering Wheel and the rudder.

As a matter of fact, however, mechanical gearsare being superseded by automatic steerfers. which possess the advantage that but small power is required to operate them, but they are still open to the objection that the connections between the steam engine and the rudder are liable to become broken under sudden and unusual strains; By means of our inventiomall of these objections are overcome since there are no movable connections passing from the bow to the stern.

Byour invention, we propose to produce a. device for steering vessels, that will be of little weightand that will be compact, and at the same time, inexpensive to construct, and easy and positive in its action.

Our invention will be easily'attached to my kind or type of vessel, without injury to the same, the only requisite being that the vessel should be provided with a .plant in which electricity and steamor other power can be generated.

The invention consists generally in placing a prime motor, such as a steam, hydraulic, pneumatic, spring, or electric motor, near the stern of the vessel and connected to and operating the-steering device in connecting the eccentrics, valves, or equivalent controlling gear of said prime motor, to an electric motor;

so and in placing thecommutatorof the motor near the forward part of the vessel, so as to be controlled by the operator; and in connecting the'commutator and the armatureof the motor by suitable electric conductors, so that as the commutator is moved in one direction or the other by the operator, the electric motor and the eccentrics, valves or equivalent eontrolling gear of the prime motor, connected thereto, will be moved in a like manner, and I the prime motor will partake of the same (-0 movements,in a manner depending upon the direction and extent of movement of theelectric motor, thus operating the steering gear, and steering the vessel. In this way, we do away with the usual chains, or rods now in use, and place the steering engine adjacent to therudder, thus reducing the friction of the connections, and admitting the employ.-

ment or 'a smaller engine.

For a-better comprehens on of our invenr tion, attention is to be directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which-' Figure 1, is a top view of-a vessel,shqwing our device in operation. Fig. 2, is a side 7 view of the steering engine and electric motor. Fig. 3, is a side-view of the commutator and steering wheel. Fig. 4,-shows a separate view of the armature coils and connections, and Fig. 5, shows a'separate view of the commutator and connections.

In all of the several 'views, like parts are. designated by identical letters of: reference.

In the stern of thevessel, is placed aprime motor A, of any variety of construction, (as for instance, steam, hydraulic, pneumatic, spring or electric) connected by suitable gearing tothe rudder or other steering apparatus B, so that when the prime motor rotates in one direction orthe other the rudder or 'steer- 9o ing device will be operated accordingly. I

Any form of prime motor can beused, although a steam steering engine is preferred, the one illustrated in the drawings being the well known form of steam steering gear 5 known as the Sickles gear.

The operation of steam steering gears, is well understood by mechanics, and alengthy description thereofis unnecessary here. Snt-j fice it to say, that in steam steering engines I00 350,463, dated October 5,1886, which clearly stopped,

The said slidevalve is generally connected the steering wheel is stopped. A steam steering engine of thistype is shown in United all.

tor or analogous controlling element, operatling element thereof was operated.

oi the type shown, the eccentrics,'instead of being conn-ectedto and operated by the 'engiues, so that the valves will be operated continuously toadm t steam successively into the ports, are independentof the movements of the engines, and are under the control of. the steersman. In steering engines of this type, therefore, when the eccentrics are moved by the steersman, in one direction or the other (depending on the movements of'the steering wheel) the valves moving'simultaue- 'ousl'y therewith, will causethe steering engine to operate accordingly, therebysteering the vessel. Other steam steering engines are used, in which a slide valve is employed, which. when moved in one direction by the steering wheel will cause the steering engine to move in a given direction, and when moved in the opposite direction will cause the steering engine to move in an opposite direction.

to the driving shaft of the steering engine by a floating lever, or other mechanical connection, so that the movements of the engine itself, will tend to close the valve, as soon as States Patent to Joseph J. Manton, No.

describes the construction and operation of the same. -Tho operation of steam-steering engines, therefore, being of common knowledge to all, the adaptability of our present in-' vention for use with other forms ot" prime motors will also be understood, the same principle of operatioirbeing carried out with That is to say, whena hydraulic, pneumatic, spring, electrical or other primemotor is to be used, the said prime motor is to be provided with an eccentric, valve, commutaing in such a manner that when the said controlling element is moved in one direction or the other, the said prime motorwill partake of a similar movement, and will move for substantially the same time that the control-' Connected in any suitable manner, as by chains and wheels, or by gearing, to the cocentrics, valve gear, or other suitable parts otthe prime motor is an electric motor 0, of any desired construction so connected and arranged, that, as it rotates in anydirection, the prime motor will rotate in a like direction. Any form of electric motor may be used. The said-electric motor, however,- is to be of such a construction, that it will be entirely under the control of the steersman, so that it will be actuated in one direction when the steeringwh'eel is turned in a'given direction, and will be turned in an opposite direction when the motion of the steering wheel is reversed, and will .stop, when the steering wheel is.

We prefer to connect the prime motor to the rudder, by securing a crown cogged seg-- the boiler of the boat. thatprimary or secondary electric batteries ment D, to the rudder stock, and meshing a pinion E, on the prime motor shaft, in engagement with the same.

lhe, electric motor, and its connections'for controlling the same, illustrated in, the drawings, constitute a convenient device whereby the eccentrics, valves,- or equivalent partsof thefprime motor may be controlled.

The commutator F, of the electric motor, is preferably placed in the forward part of the vessel, in the pilot house, or on the bridge, or,

in the case ofships of war, within the conning tower, or it can be placed on the after deck, in the ease of a sailing vessel. It is to be connected to the steering-wheel Il, or its equivalent, either directly or indirectly. Or-

dinary brushes bear. on the segments K, K, of the commutator and are connected with the source of electrical energy. (Secl ig. 1.),

If the vessel is provided with an electriclight plant, a very convenient source of electricity can be obtained, but if not, a small isolated plant may be placed within the boiler or engine room, so as to receive steam from It will also be seen may also be conveniently used.

'Ri 9:idly secured to the same shaft'that the commutator is mounted upon, are a number of insulated ringso'r disks I, I, equal in number to the segments of th'ecommutator. Each of these rings is electrically connected to one of the segments K in' any suitable manner, such as by an insulated wire so that each shall be in circuit with a particular 'sectionol the commutator F. Bearing on these rings I are a number of brushes J, J, of the-ordinary formgand each brush J is connected electrically with a particular coil of the armature of the electric .mo't'or-at'th'e stern of the vessel. This arrangement. is made use of to avoid the-twisting of the wires which would result if'rigidly secured to the commutator,

but-this-is not absolutely necessary, as the wires can be twisted. to a.sma'll extent without injury. In orderto avoid a like twisting of the wires at the electric motor we secure a number (as many as there are coils in the armature) of insulated rings L, L, to the armature. shaft a, andconnect the wires from the brushes J, J, to these rings L by brushes M as shown. Each of these rings L is connected to a particular coil of the armature in precisely the same manner as each section of thecommutator F, is connected to therings I. In o'rderto avoid this complicated arrangement of rings and brushes at the motor and at the commutator, the commutator can be stationary, and the brushes caused to revolve around it; and the armature of the motor can be stationary while the'field' may be revolved within or around the same. the electric motor is analogous to an ordinary electric motor, except that the commutator is independently mounted in respect to the ar-- 'mature, and it will also be seen that as the commutator is revolved, the electromagnetic It will be seen that field of the armature will beshifted accordtion and operation of the above electrical ele'- ments, are fully and clearly described in an application for Letters Patent, filed by us,

November 10, 1890, and numbered serially 370,940, said application being for an improvement in electrical steering gears. The said electrical elements are claimed in said prior application as an independent device, and

while we do not limit ourselves'herein to-the' same, we will make claims to said electrical elements as one form of device for controlling the prime motor. For a full and entire explanation of the principle of operation of said electrical device, attention is directed to said prior application. Before we claim our invention we desireit to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to any form of prime motor, or electric motor, the ones shown being merely for the purpose of illustrating our invention. "We also desire it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to a steam engine or a motor operated by steam, as any form of hydraulic, pneumatic or other motor can be used.

When a hydraulic or pneumatic motor is used the electric motor is connected so as to operate the valves thereof. An ordinary steam pump is considered-to he the equivalent of an ordinary hydraulic motor. \Vhen an electric motor is used as a prime motor, the secondary electric motor is mounted so as to operate the commutator of the prime motor. If this construction is made use of, the commutator of the prime motor may be independently mounted in precisely the same manner as the commutator of the secondary electric motor described above.

, Having now described our invention,.what we claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a steering gear, the combination with a prime motor, connected to and operating the rudder of a vessel, and valves or equiva1 lent parts for said prime motor, by which the direction and extent of mo'vement of said prime motor will be controlled or governed; of an electric motor connected with 'said valves, or equivalent parts, whereby the said electric motor will govern or control said valves or equivalent parts.

2. In a steering gear, the combination of an electric motor, having its moving parts connected to and operating the valves or equivalents, of a prime motor; and an independent commutator, connected with the, coils of the armature of the electric motor.

3. In a steering gear the combination of a prime motor connected to and operating the rudder, and an electric motor, connected to and operating the valves or equivalent parts of the prime motor, an independently mounted commutator, and electric conductors con? necting the commutator and thearmature of the electric motor,substantially-as set forth. 4; In a steering-gear, the-combination with a prime motor connected to'and operating the rudder of a vessel, having'va'lyes or equivalent parts, by which the direction and extent of movement thereof willbe governed or conas tothe direction and extent of movement,

connected with the said valvesor equivalent parts, whereby the said electric motor. Wlll govern or control said valves or equivalent parts. t u

5. In a steering gear, the combination with a prime motor connected to and operating the rudder of a vessel, having valves or equivalent parts, by which the direction and extent of movement thereof will be governcdor controlled; of an electric motor, controlled, by

.hand, both as -to the direction and extent of movement, connected with the send valves-or.

equivalent parts, whereby the said electric motor will govern or control said valves or equivalent parts.

6. In a steering gear, the combmation with a prime motor connected to and operating the rudder of a vessel, of an electric motor, controlled or governed both as to the dlrection and extent of movement, said electr c motor controlling or governing the direction land. extent of movement, of said prime motor.

7. In a steering gear, the combination with a prime motor connected to and operating the rudder of a vessel, of an electricmotor, controlled or governed by hand, both as to the direction and extent of movement. said elec- -tric motor controlling or governing the direction and extent of. movement of the prime motor.

8. In a steering gear, the combinatlon with a prime motor connected to'and operating the rudder of a vessel; of an electric motor, controlled or governed both as to the direction and extent of movement, said electric motor controlling or governing the direction and extent of movement of the prime motor; and a controlling device, operated by hand, for controlling or governing both the direction and extent of movement of the electric motor.

9. In a steering gear, the combination with a prime motor, placed near the stern of the vessel, and connected'with and operating the rudder; and valves or equivalent parts, by which the direction and extent of movement of said prime motor will be governed or controlled; of an electric-motor,placed near the stern of the vessel, and connected with said valves or equivalent parts; a controlling-device, operated by hand, placed near the bow of the vessel, for controlling or governing both the direction and extentof movement of said electric motor, andconnections from said controlling device, to said electric motor. 10. The combination-with a prime motor for controllingthe vessel, and located near 'trolledyot an electric motor controlled both PEG , the stern of thevessel, of an electric motor for controlling the prime rhotonlocate'd near the stern of the vessel, an independent commutator located near the bowof the vessel, for controlling "the electric motor, and conncctions between the said commutator and the electric motor.

11. In a steering gear, the combination with a prime motor, connected toand operating the rudder of a vessel, and valves, or equivalent parts, for said prime motor, by which the direction and extent of movement of said prime motor will be controlled or governed; of an electric motor, having a rotating or revolvinz element, which is connected with said valves or equivalent parts, whereby the said electric motor will govern or control said valves or' equivalent parts.

12. In a steering gear the combination with a prime motor, connected to and operating the rudder-of a vessel and valves, or equivaprime motor will be controlled or governed;

of an electric motor, having a revolving or rotating element, which is connected with said valves, or equivalent parts, whereby the said electric motor will govern or control said valves or. eqnivalent parts; and a controlling.

device, operated by hand, placed near the bow,'of the vessel, for controlling or governi-ng both the direction and extent of movement of said electric motor,- and connections from said controlling motor.

FRANK L. DYER. LEONARD II. DYER.

In presence of- ARTHUR A. ERB, ARTHUR D. BENNETT.

device to said electric lent parts, for said primemotor, by which the 'direction and extent of movement-of said. 

